Locker



Get. 23, 1928,

H,@8,834l J. W. SHARP LOCKER Original Fi d Aug- 11, L923 the movement ofthe locker doors.

Patented Get. 23, 1928.

UNlTE SATES JAMES W. SHARE, 01? LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

LOCKER.

Application filed August 11, 1923, Serial No. 656,937. Renewed April 12,1928.

This invention is concerned with locker systems such as are installed inthe dressing rooms of gymnasiums, factories, schools and the like.

The general object of my invention is the provision of a lockerconstruction of such character that a saving in space in a locker room,equipped with seats, may be effected. The present practice of equippinga locker room is to arrange a series of locker cabinets in rows withaisles therebetween, the spaces being such that stools or benches may bepositioned in the aisles with sufiicient space between the benches andlockers to allow for My invention contemplates the elimination of allstools and benches in the aisles wherefore a more specific object of myinvention is the provision of a locker construction having in- 90.corporated therein an adjustable seat structure in each lockercompartment, which, when the locker is closed, may be disposed withinthe locker in a compact manner so as not to interfere with the capacityof the locker and which may be readily adjusted to be serviceable as aseat or foot rest in accordance with the users desire.

A further object is the provision of a seat structure for the abovepurpose which may be so constructed as to have the lower portion of thelocker structure comprise part of the seat structure.

Other objects of my invention will hereinafter be set forth in thefollowing descrip- 3 tion which refers to the accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment thereof. The essentialcharacteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a single compartmentlocker show ing the locker door open and the seat portion of the lockerpositioned for use; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation taken throughthe locker; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional elevation takensubstantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2; while Fig. 4 is crosssectional plan view taken through the locker substantially along theline l-4 of Fig. 2.

In schools, modern factory buildings, gymnasiums and clubs devoted tovarious athletic sports, it is the practice to provide locker roomswherein locker cabinets, usually constructed of steel and having severalcompartments, are positioned in rows with provision for interveningaisle spaces. Stools or benches are positioned in the aisles, thusnecessitating allowance for a wide aisle space. These stools and benchesare also a great hindrance to the proper cleaning of the locker roomfloors by the attendants.

To decrease the required aisle space and thereby afford room for agreater number of lockers as well as to facilitate the cleaning of thelocker room, I provide an individual seat in each locker compartmentwhich may have such structural characteristics as not to interfere withthe capacity of the locker compartment. The device may be drawnforwardly to extend from the locker, when the door is open, a suflicientdistance into the aisle of the locker room to afford a comfortable seatfor the locker user, when either dressing or disrobing.

This seat construction may be embodied in many forms attachable eitherto the door of the locker or to the, walls or bottom panel thereof.

For convenience in illustration only, a locker cabinet is shown in Fig.1 as comprising but one compartment, the usual practice being to providea cabinet having live or more locker compartments in one structure. Thelocker, in the drawings, comprises a rectangular upright cabinet whichis usually formed of steel or other suitable material. the compartmentsbeing defined by side panels 8, top and bottom panels 9 and 10respectively, a rear panel 11 and a door 12 provided with asuitablelock, usually a sclf-service or combination lock. The cabinet isprovided with legs 14 whereby the bottom panel 10 thereof is positioneda substantial distance above the floor surface to afford ready cleaningof the floor.

A preferred form of seat structure may comprise a flat member 16 whichmay be formed of steel, wood or any other suitable material. This memberis slightly less in width than the width of the locker compartment andof sufficient length to have the inner end thereof adjustably secured tothe side panel 8 of the locker while extending into the aisle asufficient distance to provide a comfortable seat. Angle plates 17 areprovided and are secured to the panels 8 adjacent the door openings andserve to support the seat member 16 intermediate the outer and inneredges thereof. The lower portion of the locker may thus comprise part ofthe seat structure.

loo

I provide a sliding connection between the inner end of the member 16and the side panel members 8, whereby the seat member may be positionedwithin the locker adjacent the rear panel 11 as indicated by the dot anddash lines in 2. A convenient connecting means between the panels andthe seat member may comprise a rod 20 provided with anti-frictionrollers 21 which engage in channel members 25 secured to the side panels8. The channel members 25 may be formed to be slightly arcuate andextend from the inner or lower corner of the locker upwardly andoutwardly. The upper end thereof may he provided with a depression, asshown at 26 in Fig. 2, on which the roller members 21 may rest. A rollerclamping portion 27 of the channel members .25 may be bent downwardly toengage the top of the rollers thereby insuring the proper positioning ofthe rollers in the depression in as well as to prevent the completewithdrar-zal of the member 16 from the locker. As shown in Fig. 2, thechannel members 25 are so positioned relative to the angle plates 17that when the seat member is drawn forwardly and outwardly to themaximum outi ard posi "ion of the rollers 21, the seat member may thenbe swung to rest on the angle plates to a substantially horizontalposition. A U-shaped handle member 28 may be secured to the under sideof the seat memebr 16 to facilitate the ready positioning thereot.

A spring-lug 29 may be secured to the rear panel in such position toengage the outer edge of the seat member 16 when it is swung and shiftedto its innermost position as shown in Fig. 2. If desired the seat membermay be swung upwardly and inwardly into the locker without changing theposition of the rollers 21.

It is to be understood that a folding seat structure may be oroi'idcdwhich could he conveniei'itly attached to the lower portion of the door12 which I would consider within the scope of my invention.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it may in readily seenthat a greater number of locker cabinets incorporating the featuresthereof may be positioned in a lo r room of given floor sin-face thanhas heretotore been considered conveniently practical and thearrangement of the structure may be such that the user ot' the locker iscompelled to remove the seat as an obstruction. in the aisle before itis possible to close the locker door.

I claim:

1. In a locker of the character described, the combination of a slidingseat adapted to be positioned within the locker when the locker isclosed, a pair of channel members secured to the side walls of thelocker, pivotal means connecting the rear end of the seat to the channelmembers, means formed integrally with said channel members at the upperends thereof adapted to secure the seat in entenced position, meansrigidly secured to the locker walls adjacent the door open ing, suchmeans and the channel members being so positioned that when, the seat isdrawn to its 'loren'iost position extending horizontally through thedoor opening, the rear end is secured by the channel members, themid-portion rests on rigid means and the whole seat comprises acantilever, I

in a locker of the character described, the combination of a structure,curved channel members secured to the side walls ot the locker, suchmembers extending clownwardly at the rear and curving to a horizontaldirection adjacent the door opening of the locker, pivotal meansconnected to the rear end of the seat structure adapted to move in thechannel members, the flange portions of said channel members beingcrimped near the forward ends thereof to obstruct the tree passage ofthe pivotal connecting means therethrough so that the seat may be drawnforwardly partly through the door opening to a horizontal position andheld there by said crin'iped portion, and means for supporting the seatintermediate of its front and rear ends. 7

3. In a locker, the combination of a cabinet having metallic side wallsand a front door, a pair of inwardly facing channel bars secured to theopposite side walls and lead ing diagonally downwardly from points amaleria l. distance behind. the front door open ing a pair of inwardlyprojecting brackets within the locker secured adjacent to the junctionof the side walls and front door frame, and a seat having at rear endlateral projections which occupy the grooves ot' the channel bars, thesaid brackets being so located with reference to the upper end oil thechannel bars that when the projections are in the uppermost portion ofthe channel bars the seat resting on the brackets will be substantiallyhorizontal.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto my gnature.

JAMES W, SHARP.

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